MICROFLUIDIC CARTRIDGE

• US 20120122108A1
• Filed: 01/25/2012
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HandyLab Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: HandyLab Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: HANDIQUE, Kalyan
• Granted Patent: US 8,415,103 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/6.12
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0684 Venting, avoiding backpressure, avoid gas bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/10 Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/12 Specific details about manufacturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/14 Process control and prevention of errors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/021 Identification, e.g. bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0636 Integrated biosensor, microarrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0681 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0809 rectangular shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0861 Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/165 Specific details about hydrophobic, oleophobic surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1805 Conductive heating, heat from thermostatted solids is conducted to receptacles, e.g. heating plates, blocks
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1822 using Peltier elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1844 using fans
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1894 Cooling means; Cryo cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0677 phase change valves; Meltable, freezing, dissolvable plugs; Destructible barriers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 for parallel transport of multiple samples
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 : by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 : characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502723 : characterised by venting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 : characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/52 : with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples amplification or hybridisation processes per se C12Q1/68; controlling sequential reactions for synthesis B01J19/0046
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0001 : Microvalves microdevices B81B1/00; manufacture or treatment of devices or systems in or on a substrate B81C1/00; microfluidic structures B01L3/5027; micropumps F04B19/006

Abstract

The technology described herein generally relates to microfluidic cartridges configured to amplify and detect polynucleotides extracted from multiple biological samples in parallel. The technology includes a microfluidic substrate, comprising: a plurality of sample lanes, wherein each of the plurality of sample lanes comprises a microfluidic network having, in fluid communication with one another: an inlet; a first valve and a second valve; a first channel leading from the inlet, via the first valve, to a reaction chamber; and a second channel leading from the reaction chamber, via the second valve, to a vent.

Claims

1. A method of carrying out amplification independently on a plurality of polynucleotide-containing samples, the method comprising:

introducing the plurality of samples separately into a microfluidic cartridge;

isolating the samples in the microfluidic cartridge; and

amplifying polynucleotides in the plurality of samples by independent application of successive temperature cycles to each sample.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cartridge contains a plurality of reaction chambers.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the reaction chambers are configured to permit thermal cycling of the plurality of samples independently of one another.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein isolating the samples in the microfluidic cartridge comprises isolating the samples in the plurality of reaction chambers.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein isolating the samples in the plurality of reaction chambers comprises moving the plurality of samples independently of one another into the respective plurality of reaction chambers.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein isolating the samples in the plurality of reaction chambers further comprises:

moving the plurality of samples independently of one another into the respective plurality of reaction chambers;

detecting the presence of the plurality of samples in the reaction chambers; and

closing a valve on the downstream side of the reaction chamber and closing a valve on the upstream side of the reaction chambers.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein detecting the presence of the plurality of samples in the reaction chambers comprises positioning a LED and photodiode in optical communication with reaction chambers.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein amplifying polynucleotides in the plurality of samples comprises independently activating one or more heaters in independent thermal communication with each sample.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein introducing the plurality of samples separately into a microfluidic cartridge comprises:

placing a plurality of pipettes containing the samples into a plurality of inlets in the microfluidic cartridge; and

dispensing the samples independently from the plurality of pipettes into separate of said plurality of inlets.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of samples are introduced into the microfluidic cartridge simultaneously.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of samples are introduced into the microfluidic sample successively.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting the presence of amplified polynucleotides in the plurality of samples.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein detecting the presence of amplified polynucleotides comprises detecting a fluorescence signal from the amplified polynucleotides.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein detecting a fluorescence signal from the amplified polynucleotides comprises passing a scanning read head over the microfluidic cartridge, the scanning read head comprising a plurality of detectors having a LED and photodiode.

15. A method of carrying out amplification independently on a plurality of polynucleotide-containing samples, the method comprising:

introducing the plurality of samples in to a microfluidic cartridge, wherein the cartridge has a plurality of reaction chambers configured to permit thermal cycling of the plurality of samples independently of one another;

moving the plurality of samples independently of one another into the respective plurality of reaction chambers;

isolating the samples within the plurality of reaction chambers; and

amplifying polynucleotides contained within the plurality of samples, by application of successive temperature cycles independently to the reaction chambers.